Confederate Artillery Read Shell fragment on marble stand, recovered at Seminary Ridge, Rosensteel collection (SOLD)

This is another nice piece coming out of the large Gettysburg collection I acquired.  It is a section of a Confederate 3-inch Read shell measuring 3 3/4” x 2 ½”. These shells were one of the earliest models of Virginia-made bourreleted Reads produced for CS 3” Ordnance Rifles, and the raised top band still remains on this fragment (see complete example). It was recovered at Seminary Ridge by Iva Rosensteel many years ago (see map).

Iva was the sister of George Rosensteel, who was the founder of the Gettysburg National Museum and the famous Electric Map. The Rosensteels were, of course, the most famous artifact collecting family in Gettysburg and the bulk of the relics on display at today's Gettysburg National Park Visitor Center come from the Rosensteels.

Some of the hardest and most important fighting at Gettysburg on July 1st took place at Seminary Ridge. During the final stand on Seminary Ridge, the Union's Iron Brigade and adjacent First Corps units were pressed by Confederate infantry from Major General Henry Heth’s and Major General Dorsey Pender’s divisions supported by Confederate artillery firing from the western ridges, principally Herr Ridge.

This relic comes with a beautiful marble display stand, weighing 3-pounds, 7-ounces and having two brass description plaques.  At the Battle of Gettysburg, Union forces fired over 33,000 artillery rounds, while Confederate forces fired about 22,000, totaling around 55,000 artillery shells.

This piece is very solid with no chipping, flaking, or rust and a light coat of varnish was applied for preservation. It comes with a solid marble stand, weighing 3-pounds, 7-ouonces. There are also brass description plates on two sides. In my books “Civil War Artillery – A Pictorial Introduction” and “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs”,  I show similar pieces that were recovered at Gettysburg. A Certificate of Authenticity will be provided with this relic. This is an interesting and important relic and would go great in any Gettysburg or Civil War collection.